2011 Montréal Budget - Three-Year Capital Works Program for 2011-2013

INVESTMENTS FOR A PERFORMING METROPOLIS

MONTREAL, Dec. 1 /CNW Telbec/ - The overall investments of the 2011-2013 Three-year Capital Investment Program, totalling $3.92 billion, aim to enhance the quality of Montrealers' communities as well as rehabilitate municipal infrastructures and installations.

"For a number of years now, my administration has supported one of the most extensive construction programs in the history of Montréal in an effort to make up for past neglect, protect our assets and leave future generations a legacy of quality infrastructures. And I am particularly proud of that. In 2011, we are not only accelerating our investments in waterworks and continuing to renew our roadways, but we also wish to maintain investment in our sports and recreation facilities, our parks and our heritage," said Mayor Gérald Tremblay.

More than $1.1 billion will be invested in 2011 alone, with $790 million dedicated to protecting city assets and $350 million to Montréal economic development and the construction of new installations.

"With this investment program, our administration is going beyond the services we offer on a daily basis to Montrealers. We place great importance on the rehabilitation and modernization of our infrastructures. We are also staying the course with our major projects. In 2011, we will be committed as never before to going forward while taking care of our city, of its assets and of its future," declared Mr. Alan DeSousa, Vice-president of the Executive Committee responsible for the finance portfolio.

Invest in rehabilitating and modernizing our infrastructures

In 2011, $360 million will be allocated to the aqueduct and sewer networks, of which $111 million will be dedicated to bringing drinking-water treatment up to standard and $24 million to upgrading water production plants, pumping stations and reservoirs. Another $155 million will be invested in renewal and rehabilitation of water and sewer systems and $7 million will be allocated to start-up work on disinfecting sewage to improve the quality of waste water released into the St. Lawrence and des Prairies rivers.  

Moreover, more than $190 million will be allocated to the repair and renovation of the road network, which extends over more than 5,040 km.

Improve communities, the environment and safety

In 2011, the municipal administration will spend $14.5 million to launch four renovation projects to upgrade arenas: the Verdun Auditorium, and the Denis Savard (Verdun), Doug-Harvey (Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce) and Raymond-Préfontaine (Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve) rinks.

To respond to the needs of families, $14 million will be invested in local parks and $7 million in landscape work on major parks. As of 2011, an annual investment of $9 million will help to expand the existing bicycle path network of 530 km with the addition of 50 km of new trails.

The city also recognizes the wealth of its heritage and believes that it serves as a cultural, social and economic lever for the metropolis. To preserve this rich patrimony, $5 million will be reserved for the restoration of heritage buildings, such as the Marché Bonsecours and the maison Hélène-de-Champlain, while $16 million will be allocated to developing Vieux-Montréal, the historic heart of the metropolis.

In an effort to make services more accessible, Montréal also will disburse nearly $320,000 to complete work to facilitate mobility in a dozen municipal buildings. Moreover, to ensure the safety of its citizens, the city will continue to modernize its 2,000 traffic lights with a 2011 investment of nearly $5.7 million. Moreover, Montréal will allocate $14 million to the renovation of fire stations and renewal of its vehicle stock.

Stimulate city economy and development

Montréal is a major partner in various large projects to develop the city as a metropolis. In 2011, the city will maintain its investment in important projects with an injection of nearly $125 million. Of this amount, notably, $27 million will be dedicated to the redevelopment of the Bonaventure expressway, $19 million to infrastructure work around the construction site of the Glen campus of the McGill University Health Centre, $35 million to the completion of construction on the Quartier des spectacles and $7 million to infrastructures and development of the Griffintown project.

For further information:

Source :	Darren Becker Office of the Mayor and the Executive Committee 514 872-6412
Information :	Patricia Lowe Relations avec les médias           514 872-5467	Gonzalo Nunez Relations avec les médias 514 868-1127